Posted on 12/14/2018 4:21:25 PM PST by BenLurkin
The coins, which will be sold to the public beginning Jan. 24, 2019, in gold, silver and clad metal, are only the second in the Mint's history to be curved — one side is domed, the other side shaped like a bowl.
"These coins are a bit unique, with a distinct curve that you will be able to see and feel," said Ryder. The coins' reverse, or tail's side, is convex, resembling the outward curve of an astronaut's helmet and feature a design based on an iconic photograph of Buzz Aldrin's visor, showing the Apollo 11 lunar module "Eagle," the American flag and Neil Armstrong on the moon's surface.
The obverse, or head's side, is concave, curving inward to the engraved image of Aldrin's boot print in lunar soil. The design also features the names of the three NASA human spaceflight programs that led up to the first moon landing: Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.
The Mint's sale of the commemorative coins will benefit the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's "Destination Moon" gallery, scheduled to open in 2022.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
I hate to say it, I might also.
Second? What was the other?
I mean the one I watched on a black and white portable television with my dad when I was eight.
If you look closely at the original pic, in addition to the LEM and everything else, a very tiny blue spec is visible in the reflection on Buzz’s visor. The Earth. It really is an amazing photograph.
I remember where I was when I saw that image. I had pulled into a gas station somewhere in Cajun country and they had a B&W TV on in their office. I’d completely forgotten about the Moon launch until then.
The coins should have the astronauts on the moon and on the reverse side have them on the movie set and cameras filming them.
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